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A spectacular overhead kick from 30 yards out by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, which completed his personal four-goal salvo, stole the show as a young England side were outclassed by Sweden in the augural match at Stockholm’s Friends Arena.

Roy Hodgson ’s men led 2-1 with 15 minutes left before Ibrahimovic took over, his final goal a sensational overhead that will go down as one of football’s greatest.

Despite the late fireworks, Hodgson will have been largely pleased.

His three starting debutants – Leon Osman , Raheem Sterling and Steven Caulker – all did well in a generally competent England display.

Caulker was unlucky when he blocked an initial Ibrahimovic strike – only for the ball to pop up for the forward to prod in his first.

England levelled when Ashley Young’s cross was volleyed home by Danny Welbeck before Caulker bundled home a Steven Gerrard free-kick as the skipper marked his 100th cap with an assist.

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Caulker had actually kept Ibrahimovic in check for most of the night but when he was replaced by Ryan Shawcross – one of a host of late substitutions that included the much-hyped Wilfried Zaha – the comeback began.

Ibrahimovic controlled on his chest and volleyed home to level, then smacked in a 40-yard free-kick.

But the veteran saved the best for last when he took an unbelievable acrobatic swipe from 30 yards out.

Joe Hart had scampered from his goal to clear but a poor headed clearance when outside his area created the danger, before Ibrahimovic – who ripped off his shirt in celebration – swivelled and volleyed in beyond Shawcross’s despairing dive.